Nepal UK
Photo: Reuters
LONDON – Prince Harry is scheduled to return to Britain this week for the WellChild Awards, a charity event for seriously ill children. The visit, which falls on the third anniversary of the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, has fueled speculation he may meet with his father, King Charles, for the first time in nearly 20 months.
The possible meeting is being widely discussed by royal commentators as a tentative step towards healing the high-profile rift that began in 2020 when the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan moved to California.
"There is talk, growing talk, that he might well meet up with his father," said Simon Perry, who covers the royal family for People magazine. Neither Buckingham Palace nor Harry's spokesperson would comment on the private matter.
The last time Harry, 40, saw King Charles, 76, was in February of the previous year after the King's cancer diagnosis was revealed. The estranged relationship has been exacerbated by Harry's critical comments about his family in his autobiography "Spare" and various media interviews.
Despite the tensions, Harry has expressed a desire for a rapprochement. In an emotional BBC interview in May, he said, "I would love reconciliation with my family... there's no point in continuing to fight anymore. And life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has."
Experts believe a reconciliation is important for both the monarchy and the individuals involved. Historian Anthony Seldon told Reuters, "I think it's important for the image of the monarchy that the king and his younger son are seen to be on speaking terms." While a meeting with King Charles is a possibility, newspapers have reported that Prince William is not yet ready to reconcile with his brother.
(Source: Reporting by People magazine, the BBC, and Reuters)
